"The Socratic Method"
Recently, I have been presented with a personal reflection.
A lot of people that I meet or that don't know me on a personal level assume that I am passive-aggressive because I answer a question back with a question.
For example, my in laws. They seem to believe that I am being smug for doing so.
The repetitive phrase "you can't answer a question with a question" comes up when we come over.
When I was first made aware of what I was doing, I answered back "why?" to which they laughed. "Because it's rude."
I felt a bit taken aback. I didn't realize it could be perceived as rude. I was simply being myself.
It wasn't the first time I was labeled rude. So I stayed quiet after, brooding on how I was being perceived.
Is it rude, to implore someone to reflect back what they have just asked you?
When I looked it up briefly, I was surprised to see that it had a name. The Socratic Method. Named after the philosopher Socrates.
Okay. I might as well consider myself a natural philosopher then. I always apply the Socratic Method, either for clarity on a question. Or to move the conversation, or to reflect it back to someone.
There are certain things that elude me about my in laws way of being. My general nature is perceived as brash.
To the point where I recognize that they are holding back on their topics when socializing with me. They think I'm going to explode at any moment.
What is often perceived as aggression, as too much, is really just me being boisterous. Organic and fully feeling.
So for now, I try to be more reserved. Of course, everyone thinks that I am upset when I become reserved.
Really, I am simply quietly observing.